Foot operated dummy



Jan. 4, 1955 N. s. DYGON FOOT OPERATED DUMMY 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May29, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

AT TOEHEYS Jan. 4, 1955 N. s. DYGON 2,698,499

FOOT OPERATED DUMMY Filed May 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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Jan. 4, 1955 N. s. DYGON FOOT OPERATED DUMMY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May29, 1952 QVENTOR. 811W 4% ATTOENE Y5.

Jan. 4, 1955 Filed May 29, 1952 N. S. DYGON FOOT OPERATED DUMMY 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BYW W ATTOQNEYS.

United States Patent FOOT OPERATED DUMMY Norman S. Dygon, Chicago, 111.

Application May 29, 1952, Serial No. 290,803

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-144) This invention relates to dummies or manikins ofthe type used by entertainers in conjunction with their acts, and isparticularly directed to a novel construction by means of which thedummy can be operated by an entertainers feet.

It has been customary in the past, for some entertainers such asventriloquists to employ one or more dummies in their performances.Almost universally, these small dummies of which Charlie McCarthy andMortimer Snerd are two well known examples, have been placed upon theseated performers knees so that one of his hands could be inserted intothe dummy to operate a mechanism for causing it to make certainmovements such as opening its mouth, turning its head, or the like. Theelfectiveness of this type of device is readily izgttejsted to by theirwide popularity in the entertainment There is, however, one seriousobjection which arises from the use of such a device; that is theoperation of the dummy places a severe limitation upon the activities ofthe entertainer. For example, he cannot gestieulate with his arms, orhimself play a musical instrument, without removing the dummy from hisknee, and placing it in a lifeless position in which the entertainerloses all the effect of the dummys participation in his act.

This invention is predicated upon the concept of providing a dummy whichcan be positioned at a substantial distance from the entertainer and canbe operated by the entertainers feet, leaving his hands free to play amusical instrument or do any of a number of other things. For example,in one preferred form of the invention, the dummy is placed at a smalltoy piano, while the entertainer is seated at a conventional piano somedistance away. From this position the entertainer can operate the dummywith his feet while he himself plays the piano with his hands. If theentertainer simultaneously plays a piano recording of the same tunewhich he is performing and moves the dummys arms with the proper rhythm,the effect, or illusion is created that he and the dummy are actuallyplaying a duet.

More specifically this invention contemplates a dummy having a pluralityof movable members including a head, arms, eyes, and month. Thesemembers are arranged to -make a number of lifelike motions, for example,the

arms can be raised and lowered to simulate the motions of a pianoplayer, the mouth can be opened or closed, and the head and eyes can beturned from side to side. Furthermore, the entire dummys body can bemade to sway from side to side or to bounce up and down in an animatedfashion. In order to effectuate these movements, a series of dilatableelements is placed within the dummy, each element being connected by asuitable mechanical linkage to one of the movable members, in such amanner that dilation or contraction of the expandable element results ina corresponding movement of its associated member. Each of theinflatable elements, located within the dummy, is connected through alength of flexible tubing to one of a series of inflatable elementsplaced at the entertainers feet. These latter elements, I shall callactuating bulbs and, as explained, more fully hereafter, these bulbs maybe constituted by any type of air tight element which can be compressedby stepping thereon.

The actuating bulbs are preferably secured to a panel or to the floor,in a predetermined spaced relationship so that the entertainer may stepon a particular bulb to move any desired part of the dummy, such as hishead, withice out the necessity of his looking to see which bulb he ismanipulating. Thus an entertainer while he is playing a piano or someother instrument, can operate the dummy so that it will appear toaccompany him in his performance, converse with him, converse with thepatrons or do any of a number of other things.

One of the principal advantages of a dummy constructed in accordancewith this invention is the fact that its response to movements of theentertainers feet is almost instantaneous so that the dummy can be madeto sway or bounce in time with a fast tune and its arms can be moved sothat it looks as though the dummy is actually playing at a tremendouslyrapid rate. This can be effectively utilized to create a humoroussituation in which the dummy and the entertainer appear to be engaged ina mock race to finish a piece of music and consequently play at agreatly exaggerated pace.

A second advantage of the preferred dummy construction is that it isextremely simple, requiring no delicate parts or adjustable valves, sothat there is little likelihood of a mechanical failure during aperformance, and also a small likelihood of damage to the dummy duringits shipment from place to place.

Furthermore the dummy of the present invention is very flexible, both asto its possible arrangements with respect to the entertainer and itsactions during a performance. That is, the dummy and its actuatingmechanism can be adapted to a wide variety of operating conditions; forexample it can be placed close to the enter tainer or at a considerabledistance from him. The actuating apparatus does not require any outsidesource of power, and the connections between the operator and dummy canreadily be stretched around any intervening obstacles. This is highlyadvantageous in view of the many different places in which anentertainer may per-- form. Also, the dummy is not limited to any setroutine. If, for example, in the middle of a number, the entertainerdecides to stop and converse with the dummy or to have the dummy turn tolook at a patron, he need only step on the appropriate bulb.Additionally, in this preferred embodiment, the dummy is maintained in alifelike position even when the entertainer is not actively operatingit.

These and other advantages of my invention will be more readily apparentfrom a further consideration of the following detailed description ofthe drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one way in which a dummy,constructed in accordance with this invention, can be used by anentertainer.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the dummy with its clothesremoved to show details of the construction.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the dummy.

Figure 4 is a partial side view of the dummy.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the actuating bulb assembly.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the dummys mouth mechanism.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the dummys eye mechanism.

Figure l discloses a dummy constructed in accordance with thisinvention, and shows one way in which such a dummy can be utilized by anentertainer to accompany his act. The dummy is placed at a point remote.from the entertainer and even though the entertainers hands are fullyoccupied, playing a piano or some other instrument, the dummy can beoperated to move in a lifelike manner by the entertainers feet. Asshown, the dummy 10 is shaped and dressed to resemble a human pianoplayer, and is seated at a small piano 11, removed a substantialdistance from the piano 12 being played by the entertainer 13. In atypical act, the performer has previously prepared a record of the sametune that he is playing. This record is played back simultaneously withthe entertainers live performance on the real piano, and the dummy ismanipulated in time with the music so that a very effective illusion iscreated, that the dummy and entertainer are actually performing a duct.The en tertainers hands are obviously fully occupied playing the piano,and the dummy is manipulated by the entertainers feet which operate aseries of actuating bulbs arranged in predetermined spaced relationshipbeneath his feet as shown at 14.

The dummy is preferably constructed so that it can make several lifelikemovements. Generally, the more movements to which it is susceptible, themore realistic the illusion which is created. In the embodiment hereindisclosed, the dummy is adapted to bounce or sway upon its chair 15, toturn its head 16, move its eyes 17, open and close its mouth 18 andraise or lower its arms 20 to simulate the movements of a piano player.

Control over the various movements of the dummy is exercised through apneumatic operating system including a plurality of expandable elementslocated within the dummy, and a like plurality of actuating bulbs placedin spaced relationship at the entertainers feet. Each of the actuatingbulbs is connected to its corresponding expandable element, or responsebulb, located within the dummy, by means of a flexible tube. Theactuating bulbs and response bulbs can be constituted by any suitableair tight elements such as, hot water bottles, balloons, syringe bulbs,bellows or the like; hereafter when the term bulb is used in thisconnection, it will be understood to include any suitable element ofthis type. Each actuating bulb, connecting tube and correspondingresponse bulb form a closed fluid circuit or, an air tight system sothat compression of an actuating bulb results in dilation of itsassociated response bulb and release of the actuating bulb isaccompanied by a contraction of the response bulb. It will be understoodthat when the external pressure is removed from the actuating bulb, aportion of the air entrapped in the connecting tube and response bulbwill flow back into the actuating bulb, dilating it so that it will beconditioned for subsequent contraction. Preferably, the relative size ofthe tubing, and the bulbs and pliability of the bulbs is such thatdilation or contraction of the response bulb occurs almostsimultaneously with compression or relaxation of the actuating bulb.

Any suitable mechanical connection can be employed for transforming thedilation and contraction of the response bulbs into correspondingmovements of the dummy. Several typical arrangements are illustrated inthe drawings. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, one preferred embodiment of adummy 10 includes a body member 21 which is slidably secured to verticalbar 22 by means of bolts 23 riding in slot 24. The lower edge of bodymember 21 rests on two response bulbs (hot water bottles as shown) 25and 26 and the whole member r -is yieldingly urged against the bulbs bymeans of resilient bands 27, engaging hooks 28, attached to stool 15 andscrews 31 secured to the body member 21. Thighs 32 are hinged to thelegs 33 as at 34.

Response bulbs 25 and 26 are connected through lengths of flexibletubing such as rubber tubing 36 and 37 to their associated actuatingbulbs 38 and 40. The actuating bulbs 38 and 40 (Figure shown as hotwater bottles, are fastened in spaced relationship either to floor panel41 or directly to the floor itself, by any convenient means such ascords 42 and pins 43. The floor panel is placed at the entertainersfeet, and is preferably arranged so that the portion indicated at 44 isclosest to him. By stepping on bulb 38 air is forced from the bulb,through tube 36, to response bulb 26, dilating that bulb and causing thedummy to lean to the right. Similarly stepping on bulb 40 causes him tomove to the left, and simultaneous compression of both bulbs causes himto bounce up and down in a very lifelike fashion.

The foot panel also carries the remaining actuating bulbs which aresecured in place as by brackets (not shown), hooks 45, strips of tape 46or in any other suitable manner. In the arrangement shown, bulb 47controls arm movements and is connected through tube 48 to response bulb50. Similarly, bulb 51 controls mouth movements, and is connectedthrough tube 52 to response bulb 53 disposed within the dummys head.Actuating bulbs 54 and 55 are used to turn the dummys head to the leftor right, and are respectively connected to response bulbs 57 and 58through tubes 60 and 61. Bulbs 62 and 63 are used to move the eyes tothe left or right, and are joined to bulbs 64 and 65 through tubes 66and 67. As shown, the foot panel contains one other control device,which constitutes no part of the present invention. This device is anelectric switch 68 for starting and stopping the recording device thatis used to supply the sound for the dummy.

Any suitable mechanical linkages, or arrangements, may be used inconjunction with the response bulbs, to move the parts of the dummy;preferably, however, the linkages are simple so that they will notreadily get out of order, and are such that a rapid response is obtainedupon dilation or contraction of the inflatable element. Several typicalarrangements are illustrated in Figures 2 to 7. For example, arms 20 arehinged to frame member 21 by means of hinge pins 70. The forearm andupper arm are preferably joined by a piece of material such as a heavyleather strap 71. A rod 72 is connected to each of the arms 20, andcarries a plate 73 which abuts response bulb 50. The response bulb issecured in any suitable manner, either to frame member 21 or to plate73, and is positioned so that it is interposed between these members.

When the bulb is inflated, plate 73 is forced outwardly from framemember 21, and the arms 20 pivot about pin 70 into a raised positionsimilar to that shown in Figure 1. Alternately, inflating and deflatingbulb 50 by pressing and releasing actuating bulb 47 causes the arms andhands 74 to be raised and lowered, simulating the action of a personplaying the piano. The slight flexure of the forearms at the elbow jointadds to the effect, furthermore the response characteristics of thesystem shown are so rapid that the dummy can keep time with theentertainer even when the entertainer is playing at an exaggeratedlyhigh rate of speed.

In the preferred embodiment, the dummys head is movable to the left orright. This is accomplished by compressing either bulb 54 or bulb 55which inflates either bulb 57 or 58. Bulbs 57 and 58 are suspended fromthe rear portion of frame member 21 by means of hooks 75. Preferably, aplate 76, carried by the body member, is provided to furnish an abutmentsurface for the bulbs. Two flappers 77 and 78 are mounted to plate 76 bymeans of hinges 80. The flappers are disposed so that the bulbs arecompressed between them and plate 76, and include depending extensions82.

The dummys head is mounted on post 84 which is rotatably supported fromthe frame as at 85. The head is journalled by the frame as at 86, and acurved wire 87 may be provided to maintain it in its proper verticalposition. A rope 88 is wound around post 84, one end of the rope passingover pullies 90 and 91 and being secured to extension 82; the other endof the rope passes over pulley 92, and a pulley 91 (not shown), and issecured to other extension 82 of flapper 77. Dilation of bulb 58 forcesflapper 78 outwardly pulling on the end of the rope 88 attached toextension 82. This turns post 84 and causes the head to rotate to theright. Similarly, dilation of bulb 57 causes the dummys head to turn tothe left. The dummys head is returned to a straight forward positioneither by release of both actuating bulbs, in which case the tendency ofthe pressure of the bulbs to equalize will cause the head to return toits position, or. by application of slight pressure to the oppositeactuating bulb from the one previously compressed.

One type of mouth moving mechanism is shown in Figure 6, and includes anabutment surface formed by plate 93 which is secured to the dummys head.The curved mouth 18 and chinpiece 94 of the dummy are hingedly connectedto the head as by pins 95,and provided with rearwardly extending strips96 which carry plate 97. Response bulb 53 is placed between plate 97 andabutment member 93; consequently, inflation of the bulb causes the mouthto rotate downwardly about pins 95. The mouth can be returned to itsclosed position when bulb 53 is deflated either by making plate 97 ofsome heavy material to overbalance the weight of curved portion 94, orin any other suitable manner such as by connecting a small spring toplate 97 or the strips 96.

An etfective form of eye moving mechanisms shown in Figure 7, andincludes a generally U-shaped frame 98 carrying backing plates 100-100upon which are mounted hemispherical eyes 101 and 102. A ball 103 issecured to the U-shaped frame 98 by pin 104, and is disposed betweenbulbs 64 and 65. In the somewhat diagrammatic representation of Figure7, the mounting means for securing bracket 98 to the head are omitted.It will be understood that the frame is mounted to the head forhorizontal pivotal movement as at 105. Inflating bulb 64 will cause theball 103 to move to the right and the eyes to the left; similarly,inflation of ball 65 will cause the eye movement to the right.

A dummy constructed in accordance with the general principles I havejust outlined can be used to a very good advantage by an entertainer inconjunction with his act, even when he himself is actively engaged inoperating another device such as a musical instrument. For example, thepresent inventor makes recordings of the various numbers he is toperform. Then while he plays and sings a song, he plays back the recordand simultaneously operates the dummy so that it appears to be playingin time with the entertainer. A very humorous illusion is thus createdthat the dummy and entertainer in fact are playing a duet. Furthermore,without any visible movement on the part of the entertainer, the dummywhich is placed at some distance, can be manipulated so that it appearsto engage in conversation with the entertainer, or to converse or stareat any of the customers present.

Obviously, many minor modifications can be made in the precise structurewhich I have illustrated as the preferred embodiment of my inventionwithout departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it isquite possible that two, or even a larger group of dummies, can beoperated in the manner I have just outlined by grouping the actuatingbulbs for each of the dummies on a foot panel adjacent the entertainer.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A dummy adapted to be operated by an entertainers feet, said dummyincluding a body having a plurality of movable members pivotally securedthereto, means for operating said members to cause them to have lifelikemovements, said means comprising a foot panel adapted to be disposed atthe entertainers feet, a plurality of compressible actuating bulbsmounted in spaced relationship upon said foot panel, a like plurality ofdilatable response bulbs disposed interiorly of said body, a pluralityof flexible tubes, each of said flexible tubes interconnecting one ofsaid actuating bulbs and one of said response bulbs to form a closedfluid circuit, whereby compression of said actuating bulb causesdilation of its associated response bulb, and mechanical meansinterconnecting each of said movable members to one of said responsebulbs so that dilation or subsequent contraction of any one of saidresponse bulbs is effective to cause pivotal movement of its respectiveone of said members, and means for causing said subsequent contraction.

2. An entertainment device comprising a simulated piano, a bench and adummy adapted to be operated by f i an entertainers feet so as tosimulate the movement of a piano player, said dummy being disposed insitting position on said bench adjacent to said piano remote from theentertainer and comprising a body having a plurality of movable members,including a pair of arms pivotally secured to the body, and a headpivotally secured to the body, a plurality of dilatable response bulbsdisposed within the body and other dilatable response bulbs disposedbetween the body and bench, means mechanically interconnecting one ofsaid response bulbs with said arms and means mechanicallyinterconnecting another of said response bulbs with said head, wherebydilation of said first named response bulb causes movement of said armsand dilation of said second named response bulb causes movement of saidhead and dilation of said last named response bulbs raises said bodyrelative to said bench, and means for selectively dilating said bulbs,said means comprising a floor panel adapted to be disposed adjacent tothe entertainers feet, a plurality of compressible actuating bulbsmounted upon said floor panel in spaced relationship with one another,and a plurality of flexible tubes, each flexible tube interconnectingone of said actuating bulbs and one of said response bulbs to form afluid tight circuit, so that compression of one of said actuating bulbscauses dilation of the response bulb to which it is interconnected bysaid tube and means for returning each of said actuating bulbs to adilated condition sub sequent to the compression thereof.

3. An entertainment device comprising a simulated piano, a bench and adummy adapted to be operated by an entertainers feet so as to simulatethe movement of a piano player, said dummy being disposed in sittingposition on said bench adjacent to said piano remote from theentertainer and comprising a body having a plurality of movable memberspivotally secured thereto, means for operating said members to causethem to have lifelike movements and for raising said body relative tosaid seat, said means comprising a foot panel adapted to be disposed atthe entertainers feet, a plurality of compressible actuating bulbsmounted in spaced relationship upon said foot panel, a like number ofdilatable response bulbs, a plurality of said dilatable response bulbsbeing disposed interiorly of said body and other dilatable responsebulbs being disposed between the body and bench, a plurality of flexibletubes, each of said flexible tubes interconnecting one of said actuatingbulbs and one of said response bulbs to form a closed fluid circuit,whereby compression of said actuating bulb causes dilation of itsassociated response bulb, and mechanical means interconnecting each ofsaid movable members to one of said response bulbs so that dilation orsubsequent contraction of one of said response bulbs is effective tocause pivotal movement of its respective one of said members, anddilation of said last named response bulbs raises said body relative tosaid bench, and means for causing said subsequent contraction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS409,701 Phillips Aug. 27, 1889 1,605,738 Idemoto Nov. 2, 1926 2,065,473Liwschutz Dec. 22, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 27,720 Great Britain 1907614,344 France Dec. 11, 1926 376,701 Italy Nov. 23, 1939

